Ella Slade - IBM's LGBTQ+ Striving for Authenticity Report

OutBüro - LGBTQ Voices

In this episode of OutBüro Voices featuring LGBTQ professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders from around the world, host Dennis Velco chats with Ella Slade who is the LGBTQ+ Global Leader at IBM. We discuss the recently completed LGBTQ+ Striving for Authenticity report by IBM with support from LGBTQ+ organizations Out&Equal and Workplace Pride (link below). Be sure to watch or listen to this lively and insightful conversation.

Ella started her career at IBM first as a college intern working in recruitment marketing covering Europe. They have been very involved in the LGBTQ+ and were active in the IBM LGBTQ+ employee resource group. They loved IBM's culture and was able to return to IBM after completing their degree entering the global recruitment team. Within that role, they began focusing on diversity in its full spectrum yet with a keen interest in LGBTQ+ talent. Ella spearheaded getting IBM involved in Pride Month to market career opportunities. In doing so, Ella saw their future dream job which they now hold. They support all LGBTQ+ issues and groups for IBM around the globe. Listen in for their full description.

Link to full the full report: https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/report/lgbt-inclusion

In creating the LGBTQ+ Striving for Authenticity report, IBM conducted a survey and a jam. Ella explains that a jam is like a musical jam where musicians play their instruments and through the chaos, a beautiful melody emerges. It's taking that concept and applying it to other things. The jam was an online advanced forum with different threads including people from all over the world over a 34 hour period. It provided a deep level of contextual understanding layered with the survey.

The report reconfirms what other studies have indicated that 45% of LGB employees still face discrimination base on sexual orientation. This is coupled with only 46% of LGBTQ+ employees are out at work. 9% of all Jam participants communicated that they do not represent their gender authentically at work. 65% of LGB respondents felt they had to work harder than their coworkers to succeed. the COVID-19 pandemic has placed an outsized burden on LGB caregivers. 43% of LGB respondents say they have struggled balancing working from home with taking care of other family members, compared with 34% of non-LGB people. More than two-thirds of LGB people say they don’t feel equipped to overcome professional challenges, which speaks to a need for stronger support and enablement networks. The report provides clear actions employers can do to foster an inclusive work culture that benefits all employees. These included policies, benefits, employee training, use inclusive language, using pronouns of choice, and using the brand for good.

Join me and Ella on OutBüro, the LGBTQ professional and entrepreneur online community network for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, allies, and our employers who support LGBTQ welcoming workplace equality focused benefits, policies, and business practices. https://www.OutBuro.com

Would you like to be featured like this? Contact the host Dennis Velco. https://outburo.com/profile/dennisvelco/

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